I’m a writer and editor. I love photography, art, history, writing, reading & hungry to learn more. I am privileged to live in Scotland with the most lovable labradors Buddy and Bella. I write, sing, love, laugh and cry every day
I try my best to turn a negative into a positive. Keeping my frown upside down and smiling each and every day. I so enjoy spending time with my 2 sons, grandchildren and riding our Harley Davidson.
It's not how long you live, it's what you do while you are here.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects 1 in 4 people globally. There are currently no medications available for this untreatable condition. Following a research study, this could change. At the Scottish University, Professor Lora Heisler and Dr Fiona Murray along with a team of international scientists leading the study. Groundbreaking research at Aberdeen University makes a breakthrough in treating liver disease. The research from this study can in turn result in medication being available to treat this condition.
This is a great step forward since the advanced stage of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease often leads to cirrhosis of the liver. And finally the only option is a liver transplant. This important breakthrough in research at Aberdeen University emphasises a prospective drug target for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This research at Aberdeen University makes a breakthrough in treating liver disease. Their research aims to identify novel targets that can aid in the diagnosis and management of metabolic disorders and associated conditions. Such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
400,000 Individuals were Researched
From UK Biobank more than 400,000 individuals were researched in the study. Researchers’ findings are that certain variations in the GPR75 gene are associated with being slim and having a reduced risk of developing hepatic steatosis.
In addition, the study reveals that when GPR75 is eliminated in mice. It prevents the accumulation of fat in the liver after consuming a Western diet.
To finish the end of this month I have designed an infographic for Ovarian Cancer. It doesn’t tell everything, but at least it has some information on it and it may provoke a few thoughts and most importantly get the message out there that March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
It’s the the end of March… do you know it is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month?
Whether you did, or you do now, please pass it on.
As the daffodils sway in the wind, dancing together with their beautiful bright heads on strong green stems bring together your thoughts of women’s health and for this month of March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Ovarian Cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women. In the UK there are approximately 21 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed every day. Despite survival rates increasing only 35.3% women diagnosed with ovarian cancer survive their disease for ten years or more. Further research and early diagnosis would help improve this survival rate. Early Diagnosis helps with survival rates, many women unfortunately do not know the symptoms, help them help themselves let them know March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Photo by makefuneoflife.net
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
Most Common:
Persistent Bloating
Feeling Full
Needing to wee often
Stomach Pain
Other Symptoms:
Unintentional weight loss
Tiredness
Post-menopausal vaginal bleeding
Back pain
Indigegstion
Changes in bowel habit
Pain during sex
Early diagnosis is imortant
Please seek medical advice if you have any of these symptoms or are worried. Speak to your GP. Early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is a game changer. When a person is diagnosed with stage 1, they generally have a 90% chance of surviving five years or more. However if they ignore the symptoms and the cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage the survival rate is reduced to a staggering 4%. Quite often cancers have spread due to being overlooked or misdiagnosed, when they have metastasised, the cancer becomes more difficult to treat and treatment options become more limited, thus survival rates drastically lower. Hence early diagnosis is important giving the opportunity of providing the best possible care and improving cancer outcomes.
If you are going to read and share one thing this month, please let it be this. Let others know this Mother’s Day Month of March it is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
If you would like to read further you can read at:
With 10 million people dying every year cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Female breast, lung, prostate and colorectal are the most common cancers globally. According to The World Health Organisation in 2022 there were over 22 million new cancer cases worldwide with 9.7 million deaths. 70% of these deaths happen in low to middle income countries. World Cancer Day is 4th February, the theme for 2024 is close the care gap. The first World Cancer Day was in 2000 and has been led by The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) every year since. The UICC believe that access to life-saving cancer diagnosis treatment and care should be equitable for all; regardless of where a person lives, how much they earn, whatever their ethnicity or gender.
Risk Factors
Over 40% of cancer related deaths could have possibly been prevented. These deaths are associated to modifiable risk factors such as alcohol consumption, lack of physical exercise, smoking, and poor diet.
Prevention
One third of deaths related to cancer can be prevented through people attending Cancer routine screening programs such as breast screening, cervical, and bowl, and finding cancer early and treating it quickly and effectively.
Impact of World Cancer Day 2023
In 170 different countries there were over 25,000 press articles
Over 850 events took place in 102 countries
There were over 430,000 Social Media Posts
Over 60 Governments actively took part
February 4th is a day like any other, however this Sunday in 2024 it is World Cancer Day an international day raising awareness of cancer and encouraging prevention, detection and treatment. Happy World Cancer Day.
I first recall chatting about Huntington’s Disease ((HD) when I was approaching my teenage years. Josie diagnosed with it was a beautiful lady inside and out. I was privileged to spend time with her, she was brutally honest and told me she loved my honesty in asking questions and not hiding fears, anxieties or any questions I had. She explained as the disease progressed her speech would deteriorate and most likely no-one would understand her talking despite the fact she would be able to hear and understand everything. The one eventuality she dreaded was being a prisoner in her own body. She laid her hand on mine, my heart beating so fast and loud, I could feel it thumping so hard and echoing in my ears. She asked “you will still talk to me”. I took her hand with my other and said, “of course I will”. That day by listening I learnt a lot physically and emotionally about this disease, that it is Rare, Genetic and Terminal: Huntington’s Disease.
Neurons in Huntington’s.3D illustration showing amyloid plaques in brain tissue, neurofibrillary tangles and destruction of neuronal networks.Stock photo courtesy of Create.vista.com
Neurons in dementia. Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease. 3D illustration showing amyloid plaques in brain tissue, neurofibrillary tangles and distruction of neuronal networks
So what is Huntington’s Disease? It is a devastating rare hereditary disorder of the brain. The chances of getting diagnosed is 50% if you have a parent with the disease. It affects the nervous system of the body; the network of tissues in the brain and the spinal cord that coordinates your body’s activities. Everyone with Huntington’s through time will deteriorate physically, cognitively and emotionally. Till eventually they are fully dependent on the help of others, whether it is family, carers or nursing staff; or a mixture of all. Symptoms usually rear their ugly head between the age of 30 and 50 years of age, with symptoms getting worse over a period of 10 to 25 years until the person dies. Huntington’s affects between 1 and 10,000 and 1 in 20,000 people in the Uk. Unfortunately, as yet there is no cure and very little awareness.
Charities throughout the UK try their best to raise awareness, offer support those affected, etc. The Huntington’s Disease Alliance UK and Ireland ran a campaign in May 2023, HD awareness month. The campaign Family Matters. The Alliance consists of four independent charities throughout the UK and Ireland. The four charities all have the same goals and strive to help those affected by the disease, promote awareness and do their best to increase the understanding of UK wide of Huntington’s Disease. You can find a relevant organisation in your area:
Charities like these are important to get the message out there. Also to help those living with the illness, offer support, put you in the right direction in a time of need. The Scottish Huntington’s Association avidly campaigns for Huntington’s disease charities. Olympic medalist and double world champion rower, Sarah Winckless is patron. Huntington’s is in Sarah’s family on her Mum’s side. Sarah herself has tested positive for the gene.
Josie gave birth to four children before her HD diagnosis. As statistics go their family came out on the button. The first two children tested negative for the gene, child three and child four both tested positive. Despite receiving the news of having this cruel debilitating condition the siblings both had a glass half full attitude. That zest for life and wanting to live and enjoy each day as independently as they could for as long as they could. As time goes on life becomes a struggle; food becomes an enemy through the fear of choking, talking to strangers lessens from the embarrassment of not being understood. For many this can lead to isolation.
This disease changes the daily life of everyone that is affected with it. The person diagnosed is eventually trapped in their own body; forced to accept help from others, both physical and emotional. Even the fittest and most ambitious of us, as times goes by, our bodies get consumed by HD. Families and friends do their ultimate best to help care. However at times they feel the pressure and need reassurance; we need to remember they too are fighting their own battle. Living with Huntington’s Disease not only affects the person with the disease but those living around them. It can have a massive impact on those who live in the home. When symptoms start to worsen and physical symptoms begin to progress equipment invades the house. Yes it’s a fabulous help, but at the same time another tick of the box that the disease is progressing in the direction you were hoping would take a little longer.
Living with HD is not the same for everyone; for those affected severely with swallowing a tube feed is often fitted, some have involuntary movements, mood changes. Anxiety and depression are common with people affected with Huntington’s disease.
If you knew very little about HD I hope reading this short post has given you an insight and you have an idea of how this crippling disease not only takes over the body but haunts the minds of those affected.
I have rarely met a person with Huntington’s that has been a complainer in life.They have such a hard deck of cards to deal with in life and yet always seem to make the most of it.
So while you may have winged about being trapped in your four walls for a few weeks or even months due to Government restrictions during COVID, remember the people that are fighting a battle all the time.
At last there is heartening news published in JAMA Neurology on Monday 22 January 2024 regarding the early diagnosis of this incurable disease Alzheimer’s. The research was led by Nicholas Ashton, PhD, a professor of neurochemistry at The University of Gothenburg in Sweden. The study found that the blood test was up to 96% accurate in identifying elevated levels of beta-amyloid (another hallmark of Alzheimer’s) and up to 97% accurate in identifying tau.
“This project – which is thanks to £5m in funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery – will gather the information needed to introduce a blood test for dementia into UK healthcare systems. This blood test would be a crucial step in speeding up how quickly and how early we are able to diagnose dementia”
Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation at Alzheimer’s Society
The current protocol for diagnosing Alzheimer’s is a PET Scan and lumbar puncture to detect signs of progression of the disease. Whilst both procedures are not life threatening they can be slightly invasive, take time and come at a cost in man power, machinery and monetary terms to the NHS.
Since Ashton’s study showed that the protein phosphorylated tau (p-tau2) is clearly accurate this could mean there will soon be a key biomarker blood test for early Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Offering an affordable and hopefully easier way to diagnose the disease.
This physical illness damages a person’s brain. Through time the Alzheimer’s disease causes dementia. As the disease progresses the person affected will rely on more support until one day becoming Almost totally dependent on others.
“This is an excellent study and brings us very close to a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease that can be used in daily practice.”
Prof Bart De Strooper, Professor of Alzheimer’s Disease research at UCL
One thing we all have in common is the muscle sitting in the middle of the chest about the size of a fist that beats whilst pumping blood around our body. Delivering oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body, helping other organs and muscles function well. It really is a marvellous muscular organ however unfortunately not everyone is born with healthy hearts; congenital heart disease (CHD) affects one in 125 births. Every 3 minutes a person dies in the UK either from a circulatory or a heart condition. Raising awareness and funding for lifesaving research will help improve and save lives. You can help, be bold, wear red on 2nd February 2024.
Support can save lives
February is heart awareness month. Wearing red the first Friday in February will help others take notice. Wear red to work, school, clubs, etc. Have a red themed day/night – just some fun, bake some cakes, a quiz, etc. You can even look online and learn CPR for free on your phone or tablet.
Cardiovascular Disease
Congenital heart disease
Heart attack and angina – coronary heart disease
Inherited heart conditions
Stroke
Vascular dementia
Diabetes
Risk factors
Obesity and generally being overweight
Smoking
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Poorly managed diabetes
Alcohol – drinking too much
Everyday many people live with life threatening heart conditions through no fault of their own. Facing lifelong physical, emotional and practical challenges of living with congenital heart disease. Your body is precious, including the heart that beats around 100,000 times a day.
For some people on receiving their diagnosis of motor neurons disease (MND), they are already showing symptoms of a rare condition that will eventually end their life. With a chance of 1 in 300 in getting MND and affects around 5000 adults in the UK at any one time. This life limiting condition with progressive symptoms has no cure. Receiving a diagnosis of motor neurones disease – devastatingly incurable. Those words echo in the consultation room, life as once was for many so quickly changes. Many people with MND have complex needs, varying depending on the person. The condition reduces life expectancy with only 10% of people with MND living 10 years or more. After receiving a diagnosis life expectancy of MND is one to five years. Unfortunately, one third of people diagnosed with the condition only live for a year and more than half die within 2 years of being told they have motor neurones disease. Getting a diagnosis and living with motor neurones disease – devastatingly incurable.
MND is the name given to a group of illnesses which affect nerves called motor neurones in the brain and spinal cord. They help tell muscles what to do.
If a person has MND, their movement is affected.
Signs and Symptoms
Spontaneous twitching
Fatigue
Muscle cramps
Speech and swallowing difficulties
Weight loss
Shortness of breath
Living with this debilitating condition weakens the muscles and eventually paralysis. Scientists, neurologists are doing everything in their power to develop clinical trials to research the disease. Hoping to make life easier for people with MND and the ultimate aim to find a cure.
In June 2023 the UK Government announced to continue funding for research for motor neurone disease, pledging £50 million to be used throughout the UK.
An international clinical trial led by professor Dame Pamela J Shaw has been shown to slow down progression of a type of motor neurone disease.
This could be a turning point for patient care
Scientists carrying out research at University College London have shown hundreds of proteins and molecules are found in the wrong place in nerve cells affected by MND.
Living with MND is a real game changer. Research into this devastating disease is needed to find the cure that is desperately needed. The hard work that has already gone into research could not be done without the dedication, awareness and money from all who have done so so far. Although there is no cure focussing on helping manage a better daily life for those affected is a goal. From research scientists are gaining an understanding has improved why MND surfaces in neurones and brain tissues.
Hopeful new treatments
University College London – discovered a biomarker; diagnostic test for ALS in early stage clinical trials
UK DRI Edinburgh – Dr Bhuvaneish Selvaraj and Professor Siddharthan Chandran discovered discovered that dysfunctional axons that connect nerve cells to muscles have a role in MND. They were able to show how they could restore function to the axon by boosting a cell’s mitochondrial or natural energy supply. The team hopes these findings will pave the way for new therapies that boost mitochondrial function.
Raising awareness
The work of the scientists is groundbreaking and a must. Awareness is the key to many factors. It helps those affected with the condition in knowing they have support as well as if there is literature out there that people can access, those affected feel they perhaps do not need to repeat the chat over and over again. Stephen Hawking the scientist was diagnosed with MND; he lived for an amazing 55 years with the common type amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Fellow Scot, Scottish rugby union player, sadly passed away now, was diagnosed with MND; set up charity My Name’5 Doddie Foundation Diagnosed with MND Rob Burrows, former England rugby league player who does so much still to raise awareness. There are so many people affected with MND that raise awareness; whether, you are running a marathon, holding a cake sale, walking the dog, raffling off a bottle of whisky, or a sponsored silence. It all contributes.
During a 2 year project young patients with the use of the headset and SyncVR Fit Application for the duration of their physiotherapy sessions are carried off into a new virtual world. Enjoy time fully immersed in activities such as picking fruit on a tropical island, taking part in archery, brewing potions in the cauldron and boxing in the gym to name a few. Offering not only encouragement for mobilisation but a chance to escape and leave the room from what is going on. Virtual reality comes to Bristol Children’s Hospital
Going into hospital at anytime can be difficult and scary. For children up to the age of 12 frequent visits to The Starlight ward at Bristol Children’s Hospital very often involves treatment and a long stay. Some are in isolation and the ward becomes their home for quite some time. Many already feeling unwell and have gone through difficult treatments. Forcing time apart from family and friends. Taken away from everyday living in general, something many of us all too often take for granted.
The ward boasts wonderful specialist care with amazing staff, availability of super facilities such as the playroom, etc. However the children at times need help with low motivation and something extra as a distraction, yearn for something else.
A two year lease funded by Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity Above and Beyond of three virtual reality headsets supplied by SyncVR Medical made their way onto the ward. The headsets have an application SyncVR Fit enabling the children to take part in their physiotherapy. Even on the more difficult days the googles can be worn in bed. Working with their physiotherapists children can put on a headset escaping the room and find themselves picking fruit in warm and inviting surroundings with green grass and water nearby. Or they may be in the gym, boxing. Regardless of age we all need escapism. Technology made its way to The Starlight ward. Virtual reality comes to Bristol Children’s Hospital.
Mobilisation, Physio and so much more
Physiotherapists tailor sessions to each patients needs and abilities. Pairing up the goggles with an iPad the physiotherapist is able to or help the patient choose icons via the iPad. The iPad shows what the headset wearer is experiencing. The combination of the caring physiotherapist and the headset really helps increase motivation, encourage children to take part in their physio and start to mobilise. Staff can see that the mood is lifted by both patients and parents in the room.
Asking physiotherapist Lucy Lidgett what she thought and if she felt it helped, she felt it most definitely helped and on the days children had low motivation the idea of entering the virtual world inspired them to try she said “something is better than nothing”. Phisio Kate Millar added “the headsets encourage people to be active and gives a reason to get out of bed”
Stem Cell Transplant Nurse specialist Penny Taylor from the outset felt that bringing virtual reality to the ward could only be a positive form of input. She has no hesitation in recommending the headsets. Penny and staff hope further funding will be available so they can continue with headsets and then start to use them for other reasons as well as physiotherapy.
Listening to Nye and his Mum Sarah Clark enthusiastically talk about the virtual reality headsets was a privilege.
Nine-year-old Nye arrived at Bristol Children’s Hospital. His journey has been a battle to say the least. He has undergone a marathon of treatments. Bravely fought through gruelling chemotherapy and car T cell Therapy.
Nye came to the bone marrow transplant ward for Isolation, treatment, and physiotherapy. The Starlight ward became his home for a long 100 days. A single room, the same cubicle for the duration of his stay he was treated with a stem cell transplant for Relapsed B-cell acute lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Pushing his young body to extreme limits.
For this positive youngster physio was something to look forward to.
Listening to 9 year old Nye and his Mum was a privilege, hearing them them talk about their time in the ward and enthusiastically tell of the virtual reality physiotherapy. During his stay he had quite a battle with the spoonful of medicine pushing his young body to its limits.
Mum Sarah said “the medical staff did explain how difficult the treatment would be, but I don’t think anything could prepare us for how Nye would feel. Radiation hit him hard. He lost his core strength, was extremely tired and there were days he was so poorly and tired he couldn’t get out of bed.
With the encouragement and assistance of staff this young boy with vision problems donned a headset. At the beginning Nye’s motivation was low however soon he looked forward to physio sessions. Despite fatigue he was keen to get mobile and actively enjoy the time with the headset on. As strength and confidence grew beating the previous score and doing better than last time was Nye’s ambition. Nye’s Mum said “it was so lovely to watch, seeing him happier and trying was so good. To think this is all free and accessible”. He brought his room and virtual reality together using a chair as a prop.
Nye absolutely loves the virtual reality physio. He didn’t let the fact that he sees out of one eye deter him. Entering this new world not only helped with mobility and offered some distraction but gave a sense of community. These physiotherapy sessions help not only patients like Nye but their families too. Virtual reality offers something very valuable.
At home looking back on his experience Nye said I feel like I was stuck! It really helped me. I escaped this room, this room I’m in. It’s good — It’s nice
VR with SyncVR Medical
Supplier of the headsets SyncVR Medical are proud to be using a platform to make a positive impact in healthcare. The application used on the ward for physiotherapy SyncVR Fit offers a fabulous selection of activities. Enabling patients to take part in physio, lying, sitting or standing. Patients can do full body exercises, lower body and upper body exercises.
Users can take part in a variety of applications including beach ball squats, breathing, goal keeping, tennis, fireflies, archery and witchcraft. Dependent on choice the app helps with different parts of the body including arms, legs, shoulders. It can also help with hand/eye coordination.
On chatting with Jack Cato from SyncVR Medical he said “I feel very proud and privileged to be part of this project which is having such a positive impact. This also inspires me to help more patients like Nye, improving healthcare with extended reality”
Trying out Virtual Reality
Whilst visiting Bristol Children’s Hospital I experienced for myself the headset. As a non gamer I went into it with an open mind. Patiently Jack helped me on with the headset, handed me a controller for each hand. Don’t mind saying I was feeling nervous. I took a breath and opened my eyes. Transported to a tropical island with beautiful lush green grass I gazed at trees with delicious red apples. As I clumsily held the controllers in my hands almost awkwardly I started to pick apples from the tree trying my best to get them in the basket. Soon I was enjoying myself and eager to make sure I got them all collected. I then tried the practice in the gym. Objects flying at me, I soon found myself hitting them while matching the colours.
When I took the headset off I looked around the room. Physio Kate had been in and out of the room whilst I was immersed in the gym. I was totally oblivious of what had been going on in the room. Can honestly say I was definitely transported to another world. Thinking of nothing other than concentrating on the objects and scenery that surrounded me.
Getting the opportunity to use the applications let me see how good they are. After speaking with a young patient, a parent and staff from the hospital I found out how useful virtual reality is to healthcare. Offering distraction whilst helping patients get mobile and giving the chance to visit and enjoy places I never thought possible.
Jack Cato from SyncVR and Physiotherapist, Kate Millar.
EJY Medical Writing 